Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Winchenbach.

Hi Katie, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

My mom always told me I could be anything I wanted to be. While younger me had visions of being a pop star, my mom’s words stuck with me and led me to become the first in my family to attend college and law school.

After earning my law degree, I dove into the corporate world as an attorney. Currently, I’m proud to serve as lead counsel a for a Fortune 500 company, where I continue to hone my legal expertise while mentoring rising attorneys and fostering a positive corporate culture.

However, my ambitions extend beyond my legal career. I’ve always believed in the power of mentorship and leadership development, especially for women. This passion led me to become the program director for Ms. JD, a national nonprofit dedicated to supporting aspiring and early-career women attorneys. Through this role, I’ve had the opportunity to create meaningful connections and develop programming that will help shape the future of our industry.

My commitment to women’s empowerment doesn’t stop there. I’ve embraced public speaking as a way to share my experiences and insights, hoping to inspire others to pursue their dreams fearlessly. I’ve also taken on leadership roles in various organizations, including serving on the board of Women Standing Together Maine, where I’ve helped create initiatives like the Leadership Intensive program.

In an unexpected but exciting turn, I entered the world of pageantry, currently holding the title of National United States Maine Mrs. 2025. Pageantry has given me a new avenue to advocate for the advancement of women leaders and to challenge stereotypes about what a professional woman can achieve.

Throughout my career, I’ve learned the importance of adaptability and embracing change. Whether it’s pivoting in my legal career, taking on new leadership challenges, or stepping into the spotlight as a pageant competitor, I’ve discovered that every experience contributes to personal and professional growth.

My story is one of continuous learning, adaptation, and a steadfast commitment to empowering others. I believe that every woman has the potential to achieve great things, and I’ve made it my mission to help them unlock that potential. As I continue on this journey, I’m excited to keep pushing boundaries, creating opportunities, and inspiring the next generation of women leaders.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?

It has certainly not always been a smooth road! Like many other women, especially women who work in male-dominated professions, I’ve had to constantly battle self-doubt and the nagging feeling that I don’t deserve my seat at the table. Going hand-in-hand with that, I’ve also struggled with self promotion. For me, it took a lot of practice to start to feel comfortable sharing my achievements, even among close friends. I’d watch with admiration as my colleagues shared the incredible things they were doing, but coming out of my mouth the words felt braggy and disingenuous.

I didn’t really step into my confidence and start to get comfortable sharing my accomplishments until I started competing in pageants. Being around a group of supportive women made me realize how truly critical it is that women uplift each other and encourage each other. It really fueled my passion for empowering women and girls, driving me to create more opportunities for women to come together and share not only their victories, but also their struggles and how they overcame.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?

I’m really excited that I’ll be starting a podcast in January of 2025. Titled “Lead Fearlessly: Strategies of Confident Women Leaders,” the podcast will feature 2-30 minute interviews with a wide variety of women leaders, all of whom are willing to share their advice and the lessons they’ve learned in their careers.

Up until a few months ago, I hadn’t even considered that I could start my own podcast, and even after my pageant coach recommended it, I hesitated. Clearly some impostor syndrome was kicking in there! Despite my initial hesitation I decided to go for it and I’m so proud of how it is turning out!

The interviews I’ve completed so far are powerful, candid, and truly inspirational. I just can’t wait to share them! I know this podcast will empower women to unleash their inner strength and embrace leadership with confidence. If you want to be one of the first to know when the podcast is released, you can join the early access list on my website, kdwinchenbach.com.

What makes you happy?

One of the things that makes me happiest is my morning routine. Every weekday I spend 30-45 minutes in the morning enjoying my cup of coffee, reading a professional development book (right now I’m digging into I Thought It Was Just Me (But It Isn’t) by Brene Brown), and snuggling with my dog. I’m not a morning person, so I love having something to look forward to when my alarm goes off. It’s like a little reward for getting out of bed!

Contact Info:

• Website: [email protected]
• Instagram: @heyitskdw
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiedw

Image Credits

Marissa Elise Photography